I think I hit the jackpot this month from both of my $10 subscription bags: Ipsy and Sephora Play. Although I didn’t get any makeup brushes this month, the travel size and full size products I received were top notch IMO. Surprisingly, I got the same product in both bags lol.
Let’s take a look. We’ll start with Ipsy.
Ipsy Spellbound
The burgundy lace imprinted makeup bag looks more impressive in the sunlight because the light shows off the lace pattern that I didn’t notice when I first took the bag out of the familiar shiny raspberry mailer. The theme this month is Spellbound, fitting with Halloween, and there’s a cute little black bat on the bag’s zipper.
This is what I received:
- First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, travel size, $12: I love this intensely hydrating cream. Perfect for winter.
- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion, travel size: Although I don’t need another black eyeliner pencil, I do love the Perversion formula so I’m sure I’ll use it.
- Pretty Woman Nail Medic Charcoal-Infused Nail Polish, shade Lava, a lavender-grey, full size $7.99: I wasn’t familiar with this nail care brand that’s sold at Walmart, but it appears to be a 5-free brand that helps treat nail problems. I didn’t know what the benefit of “charcoal-infused” is, but here’s what it says on Ipsy about it: “This polish has actual bits of charcoal in it to make your nails stronger and protect them from toxins and pollutants.” Also, it is supposed to be seriously chip-proof. I’m game to try it, and I’ll let you know!
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Liquid Foundation, shade R230, travel size: I was thrilled to receive my shade of my favorite foundation! Thank you! I will be so handy to have this travel size, and I wish I had had it when we went away last weekend.
- Dirty Little Secret Eye Shadow, shade Bronzed, full size, $12: I wasn’t familiar with the brand, Dirty Little Secret, but I love this deep brown shimmer shade “Bronzed”. It’s so pretty!
The Spellbound Ipsy bag is certainly worth more than the $10 I paid for it. In fact, three of the five products are worth $32. I will be using everything in my Ipsy bag this month. I’m definitely satisfied.
If you don’t subscribe to Ipsy and want to, I’d be grateful if you’d use my referral code. There’s no waiting list now.
The only not so positive thing that I have to say about Ipsy is not about the bags but about their relatively new “cash back program”. They now have a 30% cash back offer going on to sweeten the deal, but frankly, I am afraid to take the chance to use it. A month ago when the program first started, I purchased a tube of MAC Upward Lift Mascara, and I was supposed to receive 20% cash back which would have been $4.60. I never got the cash back. I contacted Ipsy Support right after I placed the order when I didn’t receive a confirmation from Ipsy, and they were no help. I contacted them several times again. They keep asking me for screenshots of my purchase made over a month ago. I did find the online confirmation from MAC, and I just sent a screenshot of that. I’ve spent probably 3 hours to get back $4.60. Oh, the customer support person said she would let me choose in advance one of my Ipsy bag products for next month to make up for my inconvenience. Oooh, consolation prize. I won’t do this again. For me, it isn’t worth the risk since they don’t seem to have their act together on this program, and their customer support leaves something to be desired. Have you tried the Ipsy cash back program yet? If so, how was your experience with it?
Sephora Play Complexion Companions
The theme of Sephora Play for October is Complexion Companions, and all of the travel size samples except the perfume are face products. Here’s what was inside:
- BECCA First Light Priming Filter, travel size, $18: I think I got a different BECCA primer in a Sephora Play bag earlier this spring. I’ve gotta go back and look. This one is a ever-so-slightly iridescent lavender shade. It’s a bit liquid-y, but it dries down immediately. In fact, I don’t think this is hydrating enough for me with my super dry skin, but I’ll try it underneath a very hydrating BB or CC cream and see if how it looks.
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Liquid Foundation, travel size, shade Y225: So this is the other travel size MUFE foundation that I got. Unfortunately, Y means Yellow and nothing yellow is right for me. I wish I had gotten my shade like I did from Ipsy. Oh well, next summer when I have a bit of a tan, I could probably get away with this.
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Skin Booster, travel size: I tried a small sample of this at Sephora several months ago, and it didn’t seem quite hydrating enough for my winter dry skin. However, I was happy to get this slightly larger sample so I can try it again. I think I’ll end up sticking with my beloved IT Cosmetics No. 50 Serum, but I love to try new things!
- CoverFX Custom Enhancer Drops, shade Moonlight, travel size: I am super-psyched to try this lovely rose gold radiance boosting liquid in my foundation. The color is gorgeous.
- Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder, travel size: Though I’m not a huge fan of loose setting powder, I will definitely give this a try because it gets such high marks. Who knows, maybe I’ll become a convert!
- Chanel eau de parfum Gabrielle sample: Unfortunately, not my type of fragrance.
Although these are all travel size products, they are worth well over $10. Plus they are all products from prestige brands that I’m eager to try. I like it!
BTW, here are the two MUFE Ultra HD Foundations side by side: on the left Y225 and on the right R230.
What did you get in your Ipsy and/or Sephora Play bags this month? What did you think?
LotusRx HairCare Giveaway Winner
The winner of the LotusRx Shampoo and Conditioner is Laurie N. Congratulations, Laurie! And thank you to all of you who entered, tweeted, followed, and helped spread the word about LotusRx and the giveaway. Please stay tuned because there are more giveaways coming down the pike. I’ve just gotta write them up!
Good Morning Allison! Hope you’re having nice fall weather. You totally scored on both bags. I have to say my ipsy bag was just Meh but that’s ok,still worth the $10 but full of things I have a ton of and don’t really want except for the MUFE skin booster,that looks interesting. I also got the Y foundation sample so now I have 2,lol(time to give things away to clients where I work)!Having said all this I must say my Sephora Play bag was fabulous and I love it. Dr.Brandt sample size Pore Dermabrasion,Tarte deluce sample setting spray/misy(YAY)Tory Burch perfume sample and a MUFE primer that I just used and LOVE! I will be buying this full size.I wasn’t sure which one it was since it was light in color and could have been 1 of 3 but as I put it on it became obvious it’s color correcting and boy soe it work an my blue veined eyes ,Lids ,underneath and especially those pesky dark corners of my eyes.It’s thrilling to see the blue go away like magic sine I have spent about $100 on eye brighteners that promise to take the blue shadows away and get great reviews but,for me, are just ok.HURRAH!!!My search is over.I am a happy camper. you have a great day hon. xo
Bummer about the meh Ipsy bag this month. I definitely got a really good one this month. And Sephora was good too as it was last month because my prior 6 months were meh. I have the Tarte setting spray, I think, from an earlier bag and it’s good stuff. Good to know that you’re a fan of Dr. Brandt Pore Dermabrasion coz I get them from time to time and I’m always looking for someone to give it to 😉 I’m really curious about the MUFE primer that you got – is it specifically an eye primer? I have red eyelids with blue veins, and I was disappointed in the yellowy color of the IT Bye Bye Redness and I’ve been looking for an alternative. The one you got sounds great! Beautiful late summer weather here this week, lol. Hope it’s nice where you are too. Have a great day, Laura!
Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you Allison. I hope you’re having a great weekend. The MUFE primer is not specifically for eyes as far as I can tell. I have the same exact eyelids it sounds like and I was amazed at how well it corrected my eyes. I’d say it’s worth a try,I’m drfinitely not putting it on my infamous list,lol…I’m definitely buying it!!! 🙂 xo
OH ALLISON!!! I have made a horrible and EMBARRASSING mistake. It is NOT MUFE primer, it is Urban Decay Optical Illusion complexion primer AND I went back and used it again and it was ok but not the HG product I thought the first time I used it. I did experiment using it only on my eyes and it helped my lids decent enough(not completely,nothing does)and it got rid of the eyeliner blue line I have under my left eye when applied heavily but my biggest problem the corners of my eyes(makes me look like I have bruises)It only slightly diminished.Would I use it again, yes definitely,I still want to play with it but (sigh) it’s going on the list. So very sorry about such a major malfunction, I really don’t know how I confused it like that but I had to let you know when I realized my mistake. Enjoy your Sunday, Laura xo
Oh, no harm done at all because as I just wrote, I forgot about it when I was at Sephora yesterday. I will take a look at the UD Optical Illusion Complexion Primer. I used to love their anti-aging eyeshadow primer because it gave me enough coverage, but when they changed the tube and added an applicator, they seemed to have changed the formula a bit too. Sometimes UD products are too drying for me because I believe they are developed for a younger target market with oilier skin, and I have such dry eyes. I’ll see if Sephora will give me a sample. Thanks again for letting me know!
Thanks, Laura, for the info. But darn, I forgot about this primer yesterday when I went to Sephora with a 20% off coupon in hand (the only thing I bought was Blender Cleanser)! I will try to go back and ask for a sample because there are a few days left for me to use the Ulta coupon.
I got the crappiest ipsy bag this time and it’s my last month with them too. Oh well, good riddance. LOL! And wow, this month’s Sephora play! bag is really good! I really want to pick up the Becca First Light Primer.
Shireen L. Platt recently posted…THE NAILS EDITION: HALLOWEEN NAIL VINYLS
Did you cancel before or after the crappy Ipsy bag this month? I certainly hope it wasn’t retribution!! The BECCA First Light Primer is very pretty when it comes out of the tube. It will probably be hydrating enough for you, though it isn’t enough for me. The lavender iridescent color is unfortunately invisible once it sinks into my skin and doesn’t show up through foundation. Definitely try a sample first.
Love that dls eyeshadow!
Helena recently posted…United In Pink – Depend O2 517
These both look like great bags! I think I like the Sephora one a little more, except that it’s not cool you got a foundation that isn’t a good match for you…
Painted Fingertips recently posted…Review: Born Pretty Store Gold Stamping Polish #95
I’m happy with both of them this month, for a change!
I got the exact same times in my Sephora Play. 🙂 I was happy with it overall, just won’t use the scent either (i don’t care of the brand). I’m hoping the foundation is a good match, I’ve been wanting to try it.
Kristi V BeginNails recently posted…It Girl Nail Art IG121 Plate Review Part 2
It’s my favorite foundation, MUFE, hope it’s a good match for you!
These are both pretty awesome — I love FAB and MUFE!
The Beauty of Life recently posted…My Recent Beauty Empties: The Skincare, Hair and Bath & Body Edition
That Ipsy bag look great to me, and that eyeshadow alone is enough reason to love that bag!
Lola Seicento recently posted…Lancôme Gift with Your $75.00 Purchase at Saks Fifth Avenue
The eyeshadow is so cool. I don’t have anything like it!
Looks like you got some good stuff!
Jen Mathews recently posted…Cruelty Free and Clean – Shopping at Good Cubed
wow, so rare to receive your foundation shade in the bag. I’d be happy as well. Bummer on that cash back, wish they learn from that experience
I know, I couldn’t believe that I got a travel size of my favorite foundation in my exact shade! Now if only Sephora had gotten the message 😉
Sephora Play bag this month looked fab!
Kimberly Nissen recently posted…Best New Beauty October 2017
Just when I was about to cancel Sephora Play, there bags have been top notch this month and last. Yippee!
oooh wow. you got good stuff!!! I hope my sephora play gets here soon!! I like the look of your dls shadow. My ipsy wasn’t super fantastic this month, but who can complain – cuz it usually rocks.
Polarbelle recently posted…New Series: The Grey Wave
Oh, sorry your Ipsy bag wasn’t up to snuff this month. Hopefully next month will be better!
These look great! I always unsub and then they have a great bags after!!
Eugenia recently posted…Pink Hair From Monaco Salon Tampa FL
Both bags look great this time.
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